Haiku about Summer (6)

I found hydrangeas blooming in front of the stone statues of Jizo Bosatsu　（地蔵菩薩）, the guardian deity for children, also believed to be the divine guardian of travelers and pregnant women.

The soul

stops on the way ―

hydrangeas

紫陽花に魂の足とまりたり

Ajisai ni tamashii no ashi tomaritari

Hydrangeas

bloom at the gate ―

the dreamland

夢の国門に紫陽花咲きにけり

Yumenokuni mon ni ajisai sakinikeri

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (5)

The other day I happened to see the Dove tree, which is known as the Pocket Handkerchief Tree because the white bracts can be seen to resemble a folded handkerchief around flower heads.

Handkerchiefs

folded on the tree ―

birds warbling

花開くハンカチの木や鳥歌ふ

Hana hiraku hankachi no ki ya tori utau

The handkerchief

tied to the tree ―

birds calling

結ばれしハンカチの木や小鳥なく

Musubare shi hankachi no ki ya kotori naku

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (4)

The other day I visited the highlands in Akita, where I enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

There were small birds singing and revolving high up in the sky around the rape blossom fields.

I also enjoyed seeing Mt. Chokai (鳥海山）over there.

The skylark

flying up ―

Mt. Chokai

揚雲雀舞ひ上がりたり鳥海山

Agehibari maiagari tari Torimiyama

The skylark

flying into the scent ―

rape blossoms

雲雀の巣菜の花咲ひて香り満つ

Hibari no su nanohana saite kaori mitsu

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (3)

Recently I happened to find an old pond at the foot of Mt. Taihei (太平山） in Akita.

Early summer ―

wild azalea reflected on

the old pond

初夏やつつじの映える古い池

Hatsunatsu ya tsutsuji no haeru furui ike

Early summer ―

carp floating up

the old pond

初夏や鯉顔を出す古い池

Hatsunatsu ya koi kao o dasu furui ike

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Summer (2)

There used to be a legendary fairyland called "the Peach Blossom Valley（桃源郷）(Tougenkyo)" under the slope, or 手這坂 (Tehaizaka), in Akita, Japan some hundred years ago.

The steep slope

leading down to peach blossoms ―

the utopia

坂の下桃の花咲くユートピア

Saka no shita momo no hana saku yutopia

The recluses' dream

coming true vividly

the peach blossoms

仙人の夢鮮やかに桃の花

Sen nin no yume azayaka ni momo no hana

―　Hidenori Hiruta